Well-Being
How to Get a Better Night's Sleep... and Prevent NightmaresExperts sound off with their best sleep hygiene tips |
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Other no-nos? Heavy meals and alcohol. Rodriguez says that heavy meals shouldn't be scoffed too close to bedtime. Eating three hours or less before shuteye can impact slumber. It can even lead to bad dreams: Hoyer says that meals that are high in fat and carbohydrates in particular can signal the brain to raise its neuronal activity, which can be "the perfect recipe for having nightmares."
Rodriguez also recommends avoiding alcohol prior to bed. Yes, alcohol tends to make you sleepy, but according to Newman, it has a documented negative effect on the quality of your sleep — so don't be fooled.
Also, consider what you should eat: Foods like ripe kiwis and almonds can help promote slumber. Hoyer swears by the previous two because they both have a high dosage of magnesium as well as melatonin. She continues that nuts in general are great provided they're unsalted and unglazed.
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